Weird need, hoping someone might have an idea.
I'm in software and know enough to be dangerous in general engineering but very much a dabbler. I have a german sheppard with pretty bad hip dysplasia and arthritis. She is on puppy pain meds and is generally still a very happy and playful girl. She sleeps upstairs in our bed.
She is beginning to have problems coming down the stairs. Her back legs will splay and she will backup and not go down the stairs. It's was once in a blue moon but now is maybe once a month. It's only going to get worse.
I'm looking for some engineered way to get her down the stairs. She is about 100lbs and carrying her is not really an option, my wife isn't big enough to attempt. I'm 6'3 so in theory I could but I had a kidney transplant now I'm on more or less permanent weight restriction on lifting due to some issues from the surgery.
Now I have a classic northeast home built in the 20s. So narrow steep stairs with a 90 degree turn at the bottom and 2 staris. She can handle 3 or 4 stairs no issues so it's the initial 15 that's the problem. I'm thinking maybe some sort of track system but not exactly practical for the wife and I to use the stairs. Then I was thinking maybe some sort of elongated dolly with treads. In a perfect world the side would be open and just use a dumb waiter style thing BUT the stairs are enclosed in basically a hallway.
So I'm open to any suggestions people might have. She's only 7 so probably has a couple of good years left, I'm flexible on budget would prefer diy. I'm fine with power tools and good at soldering (although I doubt that is helpful here). I have 3d printer and am happy to have something machined if I need to. I appreciate any thoughts you all have. TIA.